India asks traders to stay away from China trade hub

January 3, 2012 10:44 pm

Beijing : India on Tuesday reacted sharply at China’s failure to provide basic level of protection to a diplomat who was roughed up by hooligans inside a Chinese court and the illegal detention of two Indians by a bunch of local traders.
The Indian embassy in China has asked Indian businesses to avoid transaction in the city of Yiwu, regarded as the world’s biggest commodities market, after local authorities failed to stop the manhandling of a diplomat S Balachandran and did nothing to free two hostages held for a fortnight by Chinese traders.

The two Indians were moved from the police station to a hotel under police escort last night. They were still in the hotel mid afternoon on Tuesday. But their fate remained uncertain. The Indians, Deepak Raheja and Shayamsunder Agrawal were pleading with the Indian authorities to be sent back to India.

Indian officials said efforts were on to bring them to Shanghai to ensure their safety.

In an advisory posted on its website, the Indian Embassy of Beijing said, “Indian traders and business men are hereby cautioned not to do business with Yiwu in Zhejiang province.” They should be aware that “when there are trade disputes with Yiwu, the Indian businessmen/traders can be illegally held under detention and mistreated by Chinese businessmen there,” it said.

“Based on experience, there is no guarantee that legal remedies will be readily available. Furthermore, in case of disputes arising, experience suggests that there is inadequate protection for safety of persons.”

“All people who have business/trade with Yiwu are cautioned against doing business there and all people who do not have business/trade with Yiwu are requested to be careful that they do not do business with Yiwu.” “Indian businessmen are cautioned to stay away from Yiwu”, it said.